Bubble cap assembly



y 1950 E. D. RAPISARDA ETAL 2,508,041

BUBBLE CAP ASSEMBLY Original Filed Feb. 12, 1949 INVENTOREDVARDflRAP/SARDA AND 110m")? 77: PP

BY 1M TORNEYS Patented May 16, 1950 BUBBLE CAP ASSEMBLY Edward D.Rapisarda, Agawam, and Harry F. Tapp, Longmeadow, Mass., assignors toGilbert & Barker Manufacturing Company, West Springfield, Mass., acorporation of Massachusetts Original application February 12, 1949,Serial No.

76,132. Divided and th 1949, Serial No. 112,734

2 Claims. (Cl. 261-114) This invention relates to improvements in bubblecap assemblies, such as are used in fractionating towers and the likefor the purpose of intimately contacting a gas with a liquid.

This application is a division of our application Serial No. 76,132,filed February 12, 1949, now Patent No. 2,491,209, granted December 13,1949.

The invention has for an object the provision of an improved bubble capassembly which is adapted for quantity production manufacture at lowunit cost and which enables the chimney and cap to be readily mounted onthe floor of a tray of the bubble tower and secured thereto by the holddown bolt, working from a position above the tray or deck, and whichenables easy removal of the cap and chimney, leaving the tray or deckfree of protuberances or other obstructions to facilitate cleaning ofthe deck.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bubble cap assembly ofimproved construction to enable the chimney to be mounted in ordemounted from, a gas escape opening in the floor plate of the bubbletray and, when mounted therein, to be clamped in leak-proof fashion tothe floor plate, the construction being characterized in that the floorplate, which may be of thin metal, is clamped between a shoulder on theouter peripheral wall of the chimney and an anchor ring fixed to thebottom of the plate, the shoulder extending completely around theperiphery of the chimney and the ring having a similar peripheral shapeand extent, whereby clamping pressure may be applied to press the plateagainst the shoulder at all points in the periphery of the latter.

Another object of the invention is to provide an anchor ring for thepurpose described of novel construction enabling economical manufacture.

These and other objects of the invention will best be understood fromthe following detailed description of one illustrative example of theinvention in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a bubble cap assembly embodying theinvention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevational view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view taken on the line 3-3 01' Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3; and

Figs. 5 and 6 are perspective views of two of the parts of the anchorring prior to assembly.

is application August 27,

Referring to these drawings; 1 represents a portion of the floor or deckof a bubble tray, which, as is well known, is adapted to be mounted in abubble tower. A plurality of these trays are mounted in the tower atdifferent levels, in the general manner disclosed in Patent No.1,667,136 to Alexander, granted April 24, 1928. It is desirable that thefloor plate I be made of noncorrosive metal, such as stainless steel forexample, and, since this metal is relatively expensive, the floor plateis made as thin as feasible. In each bubble tray are mounted many of thebubble cap assemblies, which form the subject matter of this invention.All parts of each bubble cap assembly are preferably made of non-corro--sive metal, such as stainless steel for example. A single one of theseassemblies will be described herein.

Each bubble cap assembly includes a chimney 2 (Fig. 2) rising from thefloor plate I of the bubble tray and conducting through it the gas orvapor, which rises from below the plate. Seated on top of the chimney invertically spaced relation is a bubble cap 3, which deflects the risinggas or vapor, forcing it downwardly and causing it to pass throughliquid, which is maintained on the tray as disclosed in said patent to alevel indicated by the dot-dash line 4. The chimney 2 may be of anysuitable cross sectional shape, although it is herein shown (Fig. 3) ascylindrical. This chimney (Fig. 2) hasa shoulder 5 thereon which extendsentirely around its external periphery, is spaced from its lower end,and is located in a plane at right angles to the vertical axis of thechimney. The lower end of chimney 2 is seated in an opening 6 of likecross sectional shape in the floor plate I with the shoulder 5 abuttingthe upper surface of the plate. The shoulder 5 may be convenientlyformed by rolling a bead l in the chimney.

The cap 3 has generally the shape of an inverted-bowl. It is supportedfrom the topof chimney 2, and spaced from the upper end thereof, bymeans of a plurality (three as shown) of horizontal vanes 8 (see alsoFig. 1) which are fixed to the top wall of the cap and located insidethe same. These vanes extend from a. position near the center of the capradially outward in diverging relation to and beyond the chimney 2,having notched outer ends (Fig. 2), providing on each a horizontal seat9 to rest on top of the chimney and a vertical shoulder II) to lieinside the same. These shoulders serve to locate the cap 3 approximatelycoaxially of chimney 2. Each vane is fixed in any suitable way to thecap. As

shown, each vane I may have two projections H, which extend upwardlythrough slots in the top of the cap and are held thereto by staking, asindicated.

The bubble cap 3 and chimney 2 are held together and to the floor platei of the bubble tray by means of a bolt and nut connection between thecap 3 and an anchor ring which underlies the iloor plate. The anchorring is designated I2. It has the same cross sectional shape as thechimney 2 (Fig. 3), in this case circular, and its upper end aiiords anannular seat which is located in a plane at right angles to the verticalaxis of the ring and which abuts the lower face of the floor plate i atall positions around its periphery. This ring may be held to the floorplate in any suitable way. For example, the ring (Fig. 2) may haveprojections, such as i3 and H, which extend through slots in the plate Iand are staked, as indicated in Fig. 3, to hold the ring against theunder side of the plate. The anchor ring has a cross bar l (Figs. 3 and4), carrying a nut [6 (Figs. 2 and 4) to receive a bolt H, which ispassed through a central hole in cap 3 (Fig. 2) and extends downwardlythrough the chimney with its lower end threaded into the nut. The headof the bolt l'l engages the top of cap 3 and is operatively engaged withthe chimney through vanes 8 to draw the chimney and anchor ringtogether. When the bolt I1 is tightened the cap 3 and chimney 2 aredrawn together and the chimney is drawn downwardly until the floor platei is tightly clamped against the shoulder 5 and the anchor ring 12. Anannular area of the floor plate is thereby clamped against the shoulder5 to provide a leaktight joint. The engaged portions of plate I andshoulder 5 are parallel and are drawn into close contact. The clampingarea extends completely around the periphery of the engaged parts,preventing bending of the thin floor plate, such as might occurintermediate the clamped points, if as has heretofore been commonpractice, a spider with angularly-spaced radiating arms is used in placeof the continuous anchor ring. The anchor ring l2 may have a series ofangularly-spaced holes l8 therein to enable greater freedom of flow intothe lower end of chimney 2.

The anchor ring however is constructed of a single strip of materialrolled up into cylindrical form with its ends abutting, as clearly shownin Fig. 5. Upstanding one from each abutting end of this strip are twoprojections II, which abut each other, and diametrically opposite theseabutting projections 14, is a single projection iii of twice the widthof a projection H. The two projections H, when abutting, are adapted topass through and closely fit one of the slots in floor plate i (Fig. 3)and the projection i3 is adapted to pass through the other slot and bestaked to hold the anchor ring to the floor plate. The projections l4when thus engaged are held against separation and thus the two ends ofthe ring are maintained in abutment. The anchor ring also hasdiametrically opposed pairs of slots I! (Fig. 5) to receive projections20 formed on the ends of a cross bar [5, herein shown in Fig. 6 as madein channel form. Suitably fixed, as for example by the welding indicatedin Fig. 4, to the cross bar ii, at a location centrally between itsends,is the nut IS. The cross bar may have suitable holes therein, such as22, (Figs. 3, 4 and 6) to yield greater freedom of flow into the lowerend of chimney 2.

To assemble the cross bar in ring ii. the latter is pressed together attwo diametrically opposite points, each located about centrally betweenthe projections l3 and I4. This makes the ring slightly elliptical andenough so to enable the cross bar l5 to be slipped into place. Theprojections 20 at one end can be slipped into their slots l9 and thenwith the other projections 20 aligned with their slots [8, pressure onthe ring can be relaxed, allowing the second pair of projections 20 toenter their slots l9 and the ring to resume its normal shape. The crossbar l5 will then be held firmly in place. After the described assemblyhas been made the ring I2 is mounted on plate I and the projections i3,H are engaged in their slots and secured as described. When theseprojections are engaged in the slots in plate I, the ring is preventedfrom being spread in the direction necessary to cause disengagement ofthe projections 20 from their slots IS. The anchor ring [2 and its crossbar l5 can thus be easily and quickly assembled without the use of anytools and without welding.

It should be noted that welding or mechanically working the metalimpairs its non-corrosive properties and to restore these properties itis necessary to anneal the metal. Consequently, it is desirable to avoidsuch welding or working of the metal wherever feasible.

With this invention, the chimney of the bubble cap assembly isdemountable from the floor plate I, when required, and it is also firmlyclamped in leak tight fashion to this floor plate, which usually is ofthin metal, such as stainless steel, or other suitable non-corrosivemetal. The floor plate is held between a shoulder on the chimney and ananchor ring with a clamping area which extends completely around theperiphery of the engaged parts, avoiding bending of the thin metal awayfrom the shoulder of the chimney, which would occur if for example aspider with radiating arms were used in place of the continuous ring.This result is secured with a simple structure which is capable ofeconomical manufacture. The anchor ring can be formed economically fromtwo metal stampings and a standard nut which is welded in place in oneof the stampings. The stamped out parts can be easily and quicklyassembled without the aid of tools and the assembly mounted on andsecured to the floor plate in the simple manner described.

What is claimed is:

1. A bubble cap assembly for covering an opening in the floor plate of abubble tower tray and comprising in combination, a floor plate providedwith an opening, a chimney having its lower end engaged in said openingand rising from said floor plate, a cap supported by the upper end ofthe chimney, said chimney having a shoulder extending completely aroundits outer periphery in a plane at right angles to the vertical axis ofthe chimney, an anchor ring composed of a single strip bent into closedloop form with its ends in abutment and having slots at two oppositepoints in its periphery, said ring having substantially the same crosssectional shape as said chimney and fixed to the under side of saidplate and encircling said opening in closely adjacent relation, a crossbar extending across said ring and having on its ends projections whichare engaged in said slots, a nut carried by said cross bar, and a boltengaged in said nut and with said cap for holding together the cap,chimney, plate and ring with the plate clamped between said ring andshoulder.

2. A bubble cap assembly for covering an opening in the floor plate of abubble tower tray and comprising in combination, a floor plate providedwith an opening, a chimney having its lower end engaged in said openingand rising from said floor plate, a cap supported by the upper end ofthe chimney, said chimney having a shoulder extending completely aroundits outer periphery in a plane at right angles to the vertical axis ofthe chimney, an anchor ring composed oi a single strip bent into closedloop form with its ends in abutment, upstanding projections on said ringone at each of the abutting ends and abutting each other, anotherprojection upstanding from the ring at a point opposite from the twoabutting projections. said plate having slots therein in one of whichthe two abutting projections are received and in the other of which thethird-named projection is received, said projections being fixed to theplate to hold the anchor ring thereto and also 20 to prevent separationofthe abutting ends of the ring, the latter having slots therein atleast one at each of two opposite points on said ring which points arelocated-one near the two abut- REFERENCES CITED The following referencesare of record in the tile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,055,048 Puls Sept. 22, 19882,338,928 Glitsch Jan. 11, 1944 2,438,536 Cairns Mar. 30, 1948 2,461,729

Glitsch Feb. 15, 1949

